Related work which manages a skillful integration of descriptive theory,
methodology and practical educational concerns is by Willes (1978, 1981,
1983). (Willes, 1978, is part of the set reading for the Open University
course.) She has studied the teacher-pupil interaction in reception classes in
British infant schools. Her descriptions are based on Sinclair and Coulthard
(1975), but the descriptive system is not mechanically applied. It is put to
practical exploratory use in an innovative and imaginative way. She uses
Sinclair and Coulthard's description of classroom discourse as a theoretical
statement about communicative competence in classrooms. She argues that
not all classroom discourse fits the IRF pattern which they have identified (a
descriptive point); and she investigates the different rates at which pupils
learn to conform to this pattern (findings based on the description). But she
also discusses the social and educational value of the IRF pattern, and
argues that teachers should try to depart from it (a pedagogical point).